State scales back search for hiker missing at Thacher Park

Bruce Decker, 71, of Guilderland is the subject of a search in Thacher Park on Feb. 23, 2018. (Provided photo)

Bruce Decker, 71, of Guilderland is the subject of a search in Thacher Park on Feb. 23, 2018. (Provided photo)

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Bruce Decker, 71, of Guilderland is the subject of a search in Thacher Park on Feb. 23, 2018. (Provided photo)

Bruce Decker, 71, of Guilderland is the subject of a search in Thacher Park on Feb. 23, 2018. (Provided photo)

State scales back search for hiker missing at Thacher Park

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NEW SCOTLAND - After a week of searching, state park rangers are scaling back their search for a Guilderland man who vanished at Thacher Park.

The search for Bruce L. Decker, 71, started on Feb. 22 and ended on Thursday, the day before the massive nor'easter that hit the Northeast dumped two feet of snow on area around the park.

Rangers from the state Parks and Environmental Conservation Department, Albany County sheriff's office employees, volunteer firefighters and 12 volunteer search-and-rescue teams combed 2,442 acres of land in the hunt for some trace of Decker.

DEC says the search the search effort is being reduced and additional field searches will resume once the snow melts.

Park Police began searching for Decker after his vehicle was discovered left unmoved in the Paint Mine parking lot. A check of his residence indicated he may not have been home since Feb. 19, the agency said.

Decker is white, about 5-foot-9 and has gray hair. He was last seen wearing gray pants, black jacket, gray plaid scarf, and dark boots.